There are different varieties of lentils. Lentils are commonly used as ingredients for soups, side dishes and stews. Some people eat them as them as the main entrée. Since lentils have a good content of proteins, they can be used as appropriate substitutes for meat.
Preparation of lentils for cooking
Requirements:
- 1 cup of lentils
Steps
- Spread the lentils over a dry surface such as a towel or a clean wide bowl. Pick any debris, tiny stones or any other kind of dirt.
- Rinse the lentils in cold water and drain. There is no need to soak them.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of lentils cleaned as described above
- One and a half cups of clean water or stock
- Garlic
- An onion
- Herbs (can be used optionally)
- Salt
Procedure
- Pour the water on to a cooking pan and subject it to medium heat until it boils.
- Add the cleaned lentils into the boiling water. At this point, you may need to add garlic cloves, onions, and herbs into the boiling contents. Salt should not be added to lentils while are cooking as it tends to make them harder. Any other additives that are acidic in nature such as tomatoes, vinegar and lemon juice should also be added to the lentils after they have cooked.
- Boil the lentils for between 3 and 5 minutes and then lower heat to allow simmering for about 10-15 minutes. The time taken for cooking lentils is in the range of 10-15 minutes but this depends on the variety. If they are not ready within this period, you can cook them for an additional 5 minutes to increase their tenderness. But do not allow them to be mushy.
- Serve the lentils and enjoy.